Category: Reflections and Discourse
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What Remains When Nothing Remains
Ralph Waldo Emerson once observed, “Of all the ways to lose a person, death is the kindest.” I never fully understood the profound truth of these words until I began reflecting on the different types of last conversations that mark the end of relationships. In recent weeks, I’ve experienced two such conversations—both final, both conclusive,…
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Life Lessons from Axon Pathfinding
It was winter 2024. I was a few months into my PhD at the National Brain Research Centre, Gurgaon, still finding my footing in the academic world. Between long hours in the course-work classes, lab rotations and evenings spent poring over research papers, I found moments of unexpected clarity in the most ordinary places—like that…
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The Light, the Wound, and the Story We Tell Ourselves
They say, “The wound is the place where the light enters you.” Rumi’s words echo through time, quoted endlessly, admired deeply. But have you ever paused to ask—why? Why the wound? Why not strength, or joy, or wholeness? And if it were true, wouldn’t suffering always make us wiser? Yet, it doesn’t—some wounds close over,…
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Crimes of Consciousness
“Our knowledge of the world consists of systems of ideas that we construct in our imagination without being conscious of doing so. Some…” The sentence blurred as my eyelids grew heavy. Penn Handwerker’s The Origin of Cultures slid off my chest, its thesis about individual choices shaping society dissolving into the static of sleep. My…
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When Understanding Doesn’t Seem to Matter (Or Does it ?)
Do we always truly understand each other, or do we sometimes choose what we comprehend? This week’s newsletter explores this question through a personal lens. Read it here:
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Been thinking about love.
How often do the simplest things offer the deepest life lessons? Today, I stumbled upon a beautifully written piece that resonated with me profoundly. It speaks to something we all know, yet rarely truly embody. I was so moved by its simplicity and depth that I wanted to share it with you all. You know,…
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The Echoes of Her Silence
The pre-election buzz had reached a fever pitch. It was that critical time before Haryana Vidhansabha elections 2024, when parties were in process of finalising their candidates, and the air crackled with anticipation and intrigue. I found myself unexpectedly caught in the whirlwind, not as a participant, but as an observer with unprecedented access. And…
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The Expectation of “Having No Expectation”
Relationships are the heart of our lives, the threads that connect us to others and weave the fabric of society. They are both a source of profound joy and inevitable vulnerability. We yearn for intimacy, understanding, and shared experiences, yet we also fear the pain of disappointment, rejection, and loss. This delicate balance between the desire for connection and the fear of…
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Beyond Addiction: The Neuroscience of Grief and Breakup
What drives us? What motivates our actions, shapes our choices, and colors our experiences? Is it the pursuit of pleasure, the avoidance of pain, or something more profound? The age-old quest for happiness, fulfilment, and an enriching life has propelled humanity forward, yet it seems our very pursuit of pleasure often leads us down the winding path of pain. This inherent paradox is deeply ingrained…
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The Silent Struggle of Cognitive Inequality
Hello everyone, Welcome back to The Aiikyam Journal. As I mentioned in last week’s newsletter, I had planned to share my perspective on perspective, an idea I first explored during my college years. It’s a topic that lends itself to rational analysis, but this week has been different. I’ve found myself grappling with deeper, more emotional questions about my being and…